Improved apparatus for carbureting air



UNITED` STATES- PATENT Grrrcn.

; i y p HUGH L. MCAVOY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANDELIAS S. HUTCHINS')N, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CARBURETING AIR..

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 45,456. dated December13, 1864.

Figure l is a transverse section of an apparatus embodying my invention,and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section ofthe same in the line was.

Similar letters of refererce indicate corre-- sp )nding parts in the twoiigures.

The object of this invention is to obtain a more effectual method ofmixing together air and hydrocarbon liquid for the purpose of producinginilamm able gas to be used for illuminating or heating; and to this endtheinvention consists in forcing air ard oil through a rotating wheelhaving winding passages, in which the oil and air are conducted to thecenter ofthe wheel from a surrounding oil-vessel and kept in a constantstate of agitation and mutual compressure until discharged throughcentral perforations in one end of the wheel into a receiver, from whichthe gas which has been compounded of the oil and air may be conductedoft' to be burned, while the oil which has not been mixed with the airis returned to the vessel or reservoir, all as will be hereinafter fullydescribed.

Thel following description will enable others skilled in the art towhich my invention appertains to fully understand and use the same.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a cylindrical vessel orreservoir, in which is mounted a wheel, B, having a series of windingpassages, B B B', each of which terminates at the center ofthe wheel andcommunicates with the interior of the vessel A, as clearly representedin Fig. l. A central hollow shalt, U, carrying a pulley, C', may beconnected with any suitable mechanism, such as that of a clock, forproducing the rotation ot' the wheel B. One of the journals upon whichsaid wheel rotates is constituted by the shaft G, and its other journalconsists of a hollow neck or tube, D, which has a sleeve-like bearing,D', the latter being somewhat larger than the tube D, in order that aspace may exist between the journal and its bearing for the purpose tobe explained. The tube or journal D communicates at the center ofthewheel B with the spaces B through perforations d. The tube D and hollowshaft C lead into the gas receiver or chamber E, from which the gas isconducted olf for use through a pipe, E. F is a pipe communicating atits respective ends with the vessel A and chamber E, and employed inaddition to other provisions to return the oil from the chamber to thevessel.

H is avalve adapted to open automatically, when the. apparatus is inoperation, to admit air to the interior ofthe vessel A, and to be closedby a spring, h, when the operation ceases, for the purpose of excludingair, and thus preventing the evaporation of the oil or hydrocarbonaceousHuid.

G is a pipe, through which the vessel A may be supplied with thehydrocarbon liuid or oil. The hollow shaft C, near the end, at which itforms a journal-form for the wheel B, communicates with the interiorofthe vessel A through perforations c.

Operation The hydrocarbon fluid or oil, on being introduced into thevessel A, finds its level in the passages B of the wheel B, and when theoil has risen to about the horizontal center of the wheel B the supplyshould be shut off, so as to permit the upper part of said wheel to beoccupied by air, which enters the vessel A through the valve H in themanner described. As the wheel rotates and the entrances of theair-containing passages ofthe wheel B are presented downward, the oilwhich is taken in holds the air within the passages B and forces it tothe center ot' the wheel B, together with the oil which the wheel firstcontained. The continuous pressure toward the center of the wheel forcesthe oil and wa ter through the tube D and into the chamber E. In goingthrough the passages B the air is held between and in contact withtwo'coluinns or bodies of oil, and the motion ofthe wheel B agitates theoil and airin such a way that they become intimately mixed and become agas eous compound before passing into the chainber E. Any oil which mayenter the'chainber E and the condensed vapor or gas therein ilows backinto the vessel A through the space between the tube D and its bearingD', and should the oil become excessive in said chamber E, it tlows withincreased rapidity into the vessel A through the pcrforations ein thehollow-shaft C and through the pipe E.

The partial vacuum formed-within the vessel A by the action of thc wheelB permits the pressure from the external atmosphere to open the valve H,and the air then passes in to be carbureted in the manner described.

As no water is used in this process of generatin g gas, the contents ofthe apparatus cannot freeze.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. Carbureting air by means of a revolving volute Wheel B B', operatingWithin a vessel or reservoir, A, substantially as described.

2. The use of the journal D, made smaller than its bearingD, to permitthe oil to be returned from the gas-chamber E to the vessel A, as hereinset forth.

3. The employment, in connection with the vessel A and wheel B, of avalve, H, adapted to automatically open when the apparatus is inoperation for the pupose of supplying air to be carbureted and to closewhen the operation is suspended in order to prevent the oil fromevaporating, as explained.

4. The hollow shaft C, having perfor-ations c, and communicating withthe gas-chamber E and vessel A, so as to constitute a medi-um forreturning the oil from the chamber E to the vessel A. g

5. As means for returning the oilA from the chamber E to vessel A, andto be especially available when such oil is in excess, the pipe F,arranged and. employed in the manner described.

'lhe above specification of my improved mode of carbureting air signedthis 14th day of November, 1864.

' II. L. MCAVOY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES D. SMl'rH, T. SoHEs'rLIN.

